The Power of Meditation

Stress, stress, stress. Who doesn't have it? Life today is hectic and fast-paced, and most of us are lucky to have enough time to take a shower, let alone do anything that truly allows us to relax.

The problem is, stress affects everything from our moods to our overall health. When we're stressed or tired, we're cranky, unhappy, and frustrated. Relationships suffer, blood pressure rises, and even our jobs are at risk.

Meditation is important for several reasons, the first one being - you guessed it - relaxation. It allows us time to focus and reflect, to sort through problems and worries, and conquer negative thoughts and emotions.

I urge you to at least try it - you'll probably find that it comes with pleasing results.

BREATHING MEDITATION

The first stage of meditation is to avoid distractions and make your mind clear. You can do this by practicing simple breathing meditations. Choose a quiet place to meditate and sit in a comfortable position. Try to keep your back straight to keep your mind from becoming sleepy.

Sit with your eyes partially closed and focus on breathing. Breathe naturally, through the nostrils, without trying to control your breath. Try to become aware of your breath as it enters and leaves your body, and try to concentrate only on your breath.

At first, your mind will be very busy. It may even seem that the meditation is making your mind busier - but in reality you are just becoming more aware of how busy your mind actually is. There will be a great temptation to follow the different thoughts as they arise, but you should resist this and remain focused only on your breath. If you discover that your mind has wandered and is following your thoughts, you should immediately return it to the breath. Repeat this as many times as necessary until the mind settles on the breath.

If you practice patiently in this way, gradually your distracting thoughts will subside and you will experience a sense of inner peace and relaxation. Your mind will feel lucid and spacious and you will feel refreshed. When the otherwise constant flow of your distracting thoughts is calmed through concentrating on the breath, your mind becomes unusually lucid and clear. You should stay with this state of mental calm for a while.

MAKING TIME FOR MEDITATION

Now comes the hard part - finding time for a relaxing meditation session. If you have kids or several commitments, finding time may seem hopeless - but fear not, you can meditate even in your office chair at work. In fact, these days many offices encourage short meditation sessions, because it de-stresses workers and can even increase productivity.

You can also arrange a time before you go to sleep (meditating before bedtime can also help you get a deeper, more restful sleep, always an added bonus). You can try meditating while taking a warm bath, or sneak a session in when you find that you have a few extra minutes. Meditation doesn't have to be done for long periods of time, even a few minutes can do wonders.

EXTRA TIP: If you do have extra time on your hands, try finding a Yoga dvd and implementing a workout into your schedule. One of the basics of Yoga is the focus on breath, and it also improves flexibility and toning in the body.

Reference: How To Meditate.org